LOCAL PRESS 

Infrastructure projects to be discussed in Washington (Politika)

Infrastructure projects worth hundreds of millions of euros will be discussed at a Belgrade-Pristina meeting, hosted by the White House on Sept. 4, the Politika newspaper reported on Aug. 24. Politika says that it’s quite possible that at the meeting mediated by the U.S. president’s envoy for the normalization talks between Serbia and Kosovo, Richard Grenell, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti sign a letter of intent “that might set solid foundations for the continuation of the dialogue.” “The agreement might be a step towards an economic union, a follow-up to a ‘mini-Schengen’ initiative, based on the idea of creating a regional economic zone, as agreed within the Berlin Process” newspaper reported. 

Milivojevic: Recent statements of US Ambassador to B&H activated yellow alarm (RTS)

Representative of Centre for Foreign Policy Dragan Djukanovic said that the meeting of Republika Srpska (RS) Officials with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Wednesday should not be connected with whatever will be happening during so called Washington process. Diplomat Zoran Milivojevic said that Serbia holds stand that statehood of Kosovo cannot be recognized, adding that this is issue for itself. He underlined that key issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is original Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA). He added that the Western Balkans is of special geopolitical interest of transatlantic community, adding that there is intention of the West to close all open issues in the Western Balkans. Milivojevic assessed that the RS deems that future of the Federation (Referring to B&H as federation of the RS and the Federation of B&H) will come to agenda of the international community soon. He reminded that the RS grounds their claims on conclusions of High Representative. According to Milivojevic recent statement of the US Ambassador to B&H about need to change Constitution of B&H and original the DPA in order to strengthen institutions of B&H “activated yellow alarm”. Milivojevic went on to saying that Serbia has been reiterating that this country respects territorial integrity of B&H. “I am not talking about sovereignty, because B&H is not completely sovereign country, since there is the High Representative and the Peace Implementation Council. In this regard, there is ground to open discussion about necessity of the High Representative and about whether presence of foreign judges in the Constitutional Court of B&H is in interest of B&H” explained Milivojevic. 

Serbian, Russian military chiefs discuss security situation, cooperation (Beta, N1)

Serbian Chief of Staff General Milan Mojsilovic met in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Valeriy Vasilyevich Gerasimov to discuss the global and regional political and security situation, with focus on Kosovo, the Defense Ministry said in a press release on Monday. 

The two generals also discussed promoting bilateral military cooperation as well as current activities, it said.   Mojsilovic is quoted as thanking Gerasimov for Russia’s help in preserving Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the help of its armed forces in combatting the coronavirus pandemic in April and May this year “in conditions when the Russian people were themselves endangered by the virus”.   

“The Army of Serbia (VS) Chief of Staff stressed especially the aid from the Russian Federation in equipping the VS with modern military equipment and training our flight and technical personnel on Russian-made aircraft” the press release said.   

Mojsilovic also spoke highly of this year’s International Military Games, adding that the VS is thinking about competing to organize one of the disciplines. The Serbian military has sent personnel to compete in several disciplines at the games which are being held in Russia and Belarus. 

Serbian Government relaxes some coronavirus measures (B92)

After a several months break due to the epidemic, as of today it is allowed to hold cultural events with audience. Cinemas, theaters and concert halls in cultural institutions will be open again, with restrictions that organizers must comply with. Visits to nursing homes, social welfare institutions and similar facilities are also allowed. Visits to nursing homes and social welfare institutions are allowed with respect to all preventive measures and protocols. Visits can be organized on work days from 10 AM to 6 PM in favorable weather conditions in the courtyard of the building, and they must be scheduled in advance and last up to 15 minutes. 

REGIONAL PRESS 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Media carry content of documents that Dodik recently sent to Serbian President Vucic, documents mention the RS’ right to self-determination, autonomy of the entity, and talks on defining the demarcation between the RS and the FB&H (FTV)

FTV carries that the content of the documents that Serb member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Milorad Dodik recently sent to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has been published. Dodik also announced the intention to send the same documents to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic and SDA leader Bakir Izetbegovic. These documents were adopted by the Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly (RSNA). One of the documents, adopted on November 12 2019, read that the RSNA reject the Bonn powers of the High Representative (HR) and is committed to adoption of the new Constitution of the RS, which the citizens would declare on in a referendum. The second document was adopted on February 17 2020, and it goes a step further towards dissolution of the state institutions in B&H. This second document reads that the RSNA obliges RS’ representatives in the B&H institutions to propose in the B&H Parliament adopting of a law on end of mandate of foreign judges and on election of B&H judges in the B&H Constitutional Court (CC). These documents mention the RS’ right to self-determination, autonomy of the entity, and talks on defining the demarcation between the RS and the Federation of B&H (FB&H). 

Dodik, Cvijanovic, Zunic: Nothing disputable in discussion with Vucic on Wednesday (ATV)

Head of SNSD Caucus in the Republika Srpska (RS) National Assembly (RSNA) Igor Zunic told ATV that the content of the document that was sent to Belgrade and that will be the topic of discussion during the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Wednesday is already well-known. Zunic added that the RSNA gave the green light to all thesis from the document during special sessions.  

ATV reminded that the document includes two information that the RSNA adopted during two separate sessions as responses to the decision of the Constitutional Court (CC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) on agricultural land of the RS and the disputable Program Declaration of SDA.  

Zunic also stated: ”Aside from the session and conclusions that we adopted, there were also other sessions during which we discussed the work of the Court of B&H and all anti-Dayton elements that (High Representative Valentin) Inzko and all previous HRs did and all this somehow went to detriment of the RS”. Zunic also responded to leader of PDP Branislav Borenovic who – according to ATV – is suspicious about the document that was sent to Belgrade. Zunic reminded that Borenovic’s PDP did not support conclusions of the RSNA that defend the constitutional status of the RS. In his opinion, Borenovic is trying to undermine the Serb unity – within the RS and the unity with Serbia – in all ways that he can.  

Commenting on reactions to the document that will be discussed in Belgrade on Wednesday coming from Sarajevo, Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik said that there is nothing disputable to discuss all the issues with Vucic on Wednesday. Dodik said: ”I do not think that strong reactions from Sarajevo, coming from those who try to see the hidden agenda in everything, is necessary. They had a chance during several years to face with our stances. There is no hidden agenda, no hidden wishes. This is simply the situation – in terms of facts, formality – that is already known to everyone who wants to see it”.  

RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic stated that as long as the Bosniak policy – with help of the HR and the CC of B&H – steps back from the Dayton, there will be no progress in B&H. She said: ”I believe that we could become a successful society if the Constitution (of B&H) is respected; decentralization – that is stipulated in the original Dayton – would bring a total political momentum if there is full political will. I know that we could become a successful society”. 

B&H Presidency member Komsic: Neither I nor Presidency Chairman Dzaferovic have been informed about Presidency member Dodik’s documents for Serbian President Vucic (FTV)

Croat member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Presidency Zeljko Komsic stated on Monday that neither he nor Chairman and Bosniak member of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic have been informed about the documents that Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik sent to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Komsic was quoted as saying: “Such a move is not just Dodik’s contempt of the institution of the B&H Presidency. However, even without the documents, the basic principles of Dodik’s separatist policy are clear to me, as well as to the majority of the citizens of B&H. That policy one again seeks a collocutor for dividing the state of B&H, just like we can see it in Croatia and the policies that are trying to revive the criminal para-creation of so-called Herzeg Bosnia in B&H. I hope that Dodik and ‘Greater Serbia’ policy will not find that collocutor in Zagreb.” “As far as we are concerned, even if some Karadjordjevo happens again, we are aware that all we can do it to defend ourselves again” said Komsic. (The reference to Karadjordjevo refers to the meeting between Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman in Karadjordjevo, when they met there on March 25, 1991 to reach agreement on division of B&H between Serbia and Croatia)  

Dzaferovic: Vucic’s declarative statements are insufficient (N1)

After SDA accused Serbia of continuing the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) over linking the status of Kosovo with Republika Srpska (RS), after Serb member of the B&H Presidency Milorad Dodik sent the document to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Vucic said that the claims of SDA are unfounded. However, Chairman of the B&H Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic said that the declarative statements are not sufficient. “They constantly tolerate Dodik’s secessionist statements, constantly tolerate attacks on the B&H institutions and t Serbian leaders remain silent. When B&H entity, the RS, is put in the strategic and security policies, those are actions indicating that statements of Mr. Vucic are not as he wants to present them’’ said Dzaferovic. Dzaferovic said that the meeting planned for Wednesday that will be attended by Dodik, RS President Zeljka Cvijanovic and Vucic is well-thought-out game with the upcoming negotiations regarding the Kosovo status in Washington.  

SBB B&H leader Radoncic: SBB B&H is leaving authorities at B&H, FB&H and cantonal levels (O kanal)

Addressing media on Monday, SBB Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) leader Fahrudin Radoncic stated that SBB B&H is leaving the authorities at the state, the Federation of B&H (FB&H) and the cantonal levels. Radoncic underlined that ministers from the rank of SBB B&H will not endorse the appointment to any post until another parliamentary majority, without that party, is formed. Radoncic specified that SBB B&H will not endorse the appointment of Ministers of Healthcare and Labor in the Sarajevo Canton (SC) Government. “The problem is that our two ministers, from the rank of Serb people, cannot resign from posts in the FB&H Government in technical mandate, because all decisions of the FB&H Government would be unconstitutional. We are hostages at the FB&H level” he noted.  

DF: Unless our coalition partners support appointment of Malicbegovic by the end of this week, DF will consider that the coalition lost its purpose (BHT1)

Representatives of DF underlined that they are aware of dangers of deterioration of epidemiologic situation, adding that all capacities of this party will be put in service of protection of health of citizens of the Sarajevo Canton (SC). DF will resume to insist on the appointment of Drazenka Malicbegovic as Minister of Healthcare of SC. The statement issued by this party on Monday reads that unless their coalition partners support the appointment of Malicbegovic by the end of this week, DF will consider that the coalition lost its purpose and that it cannot respond to the needs of citizens.  

Speaker of the SC Assembly Mirza Celik (SDA) deems that the new ministers should be appointed. He underlined that the problem concerning the appointment of the new ministers is the result of the dispute between SBB Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and DF. Celik went on to saying that they will hold consultations with SBB B&H and DF on Tuesday in regards to this issue.  

Representatives of opposition in the SC believe that the abovementioned situation is the evidence of the fight for power among coalition partners. SDP’s representative in the SC Assembly Igor Stojanovic stressed that it depends on the agreement between parties gathered around ‘The Four’ coalition when the current SC Government will be removed. He concluded that the SC Government does not exist at this moment because it is completely dysfunctional. 

SBB B&H leader Radoncic requests urgent interrogation of OSA Director Mehmedagic due to alleged interference of B&H in elections in Montenegro (FTV)

SBB Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) leader Fahrudin Radoncic requested on Monday an urgent interrogation of Director of the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) of B&H Osman Mehmedagic due to, as he alleged, interference of B&H in the elections in Montenegro. According to Radoncic’s allegations, the interference took place through a para-intelligence center in Sarajevo with the help of which a portal from Belgrade published lies about Montenegro and its President Milo Djukanovic. Radoncic announced the intention to request from the Prosecutor’s Office of B&H to investigate this case, as well. Specifically, Radoncic sent a letter to B&H Parliament’s Joint Commission on Supervision of the Work of OSA, warning that there has come to meddling in the internal issues of Montenegro, under coordination of the security sector in Serbia. The letter reads that a Belgrade-based portal published lies to discredit Djukanovic and Radoncic himself, accusing them of committing organized crime and distribution of narcotics.  

The SBB B&H leader underlined that the aim of this alleged propaganda center from Sarajevo is also to weaken the negotiation position of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci ahead of the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in Washington. The SBB B&H leader added that Thaci has been discredited by the para-intelligence groups. Radoncic warned that his own safety is at stake. “A propaganda center in Sarajevo, which is obviously ultimately connected to Moscow in terms of directions, is carrying out its final activity ahead of historically important Montenegrin elections, which are scheduled to take place in six days. This intelligence-propaganda center is trying to compromise the key leader of anti-Russian influence in the region, President of Montenegro – Mr. Djukanovic”, Radoncic specified his claims. Radoncic also noted that the safety if his family has been under threat, since the portal in question accused him and Thaci of working together on issuance of false passports to persons from criminal clans. He concluded that there is need to determine if Mehmedagic is a part of “this malignant pro-Russian center of power”. 

Niksic comments Radoncic’s letter: We will act in line with competences (Dnevni avaz)

Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Parliament’s Joint Commission on Supervision of the Work of OSA, Nermin Niksic – who was submitted on Monday with a letter by SBB B&H leader Fahrudin Radoncic, asking for urgent questioning of OSA Director Osman Mehmedagic because of interfering with election process in Montenegro- told daily that they will verify everything, adding that they received the information and everything will go via protocol. “Tomorrow (Tuesday), I will stop by the Parliament to see everything in line with the competencies of the B&H Parliament’s Joint Commission on Supervision of the Work of OSA. We will act as we act on other submitted documents” said Niksic. 

Croatia 

Leader of the Croatian Serb Party: We don’t need Belgrade’s tutorship (HRT)

The Serbs in Croatia do not need the tutelage of official Belgrade, nor the patronage of official Zagreb, since that party has its own independent policy, the leader of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) from Croatia, Milorad Pupovac, said. “We have had our own independent policy for decades, and we have been building it for decades, and we will continue to build it in the future”, Pupovac said at the opening of the Croatian-Serbian 

Relations, Extremism as a Destabilizing Factor scientific conference in Golubic, near Obrovac in Croatia, where the ethnic Serbs made up the majority of the population before the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Pupovac also said that the ties between the Serbs from Croatia with Serbia and the Croats from Serbia with Croatia are guaranteed by international and interstate agreements. He added that in recent weeks, since the formation of the new Croatian government, in which the SDSS also participates, there has been “a systemic breakthrough” in the treatment of unresolved issues in Serb-Croat relations in Croatia itself, and voiced his hope that it would be the same in the relations between Serbia and Croatia. 

Pupovac said that the upcoming commemoration in Plavno, in memory of war crimes committed against the Serbs in northern Dalmatia, which will be attended by high-ranking Croatian officials, was very important. “We have decided not to turn this kind of pain into blocking relations between Serbia and Croatia, but to try to find a way to reduce the use of war suffering in interstate relations” Pupovac concluded 

Montenegro 

Nuhodzic: I believe election day in Montenegro will pass without incident (RTCG)

Montenegrin Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic said that he believed Montenegrin society was democratic, responsible and mature, and that election day would pass without incident and with the implementation of measures aimed at preventing the coronavirus spread. 

The general election in Montenegro is scheduled for Aug. 30. Local elections will be held on the same day in Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Gusinj and Andrijevica. 

Nuhodzic said that if there were individual incidents that could not endanger the electoral process. “The state of Montenegro has strong institutions which are capable and determined to ensure the security of all citizens and, in line with legal authority, will not allow any disruption of public order and peace, both on the day when the elections are held and after election day” he said. 

Republic of North Macedonia 

Zaev expected to submit new gov’t proposal Wednesday, Ahmeti says DUI’s candidates unchanged (MIA)

DUI’s list of candidates for ministers in the new government remains unchanged, party leader Ali Ahmeti told TV21 Monday evening. He noted that no additions have been made to the line-up, despite multiple requests made by party members. According to party sources, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev will on Wednesday deliver to Parliament the proposal for new government line-up, as well as its program for the next four years. Zaev said earlier on Monday that he will deliver to Parliament the proposal for election of new government once it appoints Vice-Speakers and verifies the mandates of spare MPs and once cabinet candidates quit their MP posts. Parliament is set to hold a session on Tuesday to determine the number of Vice-Speakers in the new parliamentary composition and accept the resignations of SDSM MPs who will take part in the new government. Parliament has already received the resignation of newly elected MP Florin Besimi, the brother of Fatmir Besimi, who has been nominated by DUI for Minister of Finance. 

Parliament to determine number of Vice-Speakers at Tuesday session (MIA)

Parliament is set to hold a session on Tuesday to determine the number of Vice-Speakers in the new parliamentary composition. Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi has proposed that five deputy speakers be elected. “The number of Vice-Speakers shall be determined by Parliament, upon a proposal by the Parliament Speaker. The Vice-Speakers shall be elected from among Members belonging to various political parties represented in Parliament,” Xhaferi has said, quoting Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. 

Deputy speakers are expected to be elected from among MPs of SDSM, VMRO-DPMNE, Alliance of Albanians, Alternativa, etc. Parliament has also received the resignation of newly elected MP Florin Besimi, the brother of Fatmir Besimi, who has been nominated by DUI for Minister of Finance. Moreover, ahead of Parliament’s Tuesday session, scheduled for 11 am, other cabinet candidates, including Mila Carovska and Nikola Dimitrov might also quit their MP posts. 

SDSM leader and PM-designate Zoran Zaev told TV21 earlier on Monday that the proposal for election of new government will be delivered to Parliament once it appoints Vice-Speakers. “Parliament must first determine the number of Vice-Speakers and make several other decisions, as well as verify the mandates of spare MPs [set to replace those nominated for ministers]. Once this is done, I will immediately deliver to Parliament the proposal for election of government and its program” Zaev said. 

The deadline for submitting a proposal for election of new government is September 2. 

Albania 

Albania reiterates offer to mediate Belarus crisis (Tirana Times)

Albania has reiterated its offer to mediate the Belarus crisis. Chairperson-in-office of the OSCE, Edi Rama and Ann Linde of Sweden sent a letter to President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus on August 22, wherein they reaffirmed OSCE’s support to Belarus. 

“We would like to reiterate our offer of visit to Belarus, in order to listen to views regarding the situation and have a discussion on the current challenges in the country,” the two wrote. 

As protestors took the streets of the capital city on Monday, disputing the victory of the latest elections, Lukashenko appeared to be brandishing an assault rifle in Minsk. Last week also saw violent clashes with opposition protesters and numerous allegations of police brutality, which have raised international concern. 

In a press conference on Monday, German Government spokesman Steffen Seibert reiterated the need for OSCE to mediate the crisis. “The weekend footage shows that citizens in Belarus have shown great courage and protested freely in large numbers on the streets. They should be given the opportunity for a better future for their country” he said. 

Belarus has yet to respond to OSCE’s meeting offer, although the European Council, the EU and the US have expressed readiness to provide assistance in conducting the meeting.